What Is Active Asthma?

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 23 million people in the United States currently suffer from asthma. Active asthma includes multiple possible symptoms.

Wheezing

• One common symptom of active asthma is wheezing. Wheezing is a whistling sound that occurs during breathing.

Tight Feeling in Chest

• Another common symptom in active asthma is a tight feeling in the chest. This is due to the contraction of muscles surrounding the airways in the lungs.

Trouble Breathing

• Active asthma is also characterized by trouble breathing, either inhaling air into or exhaling air out of the lungs. This may often result in gasping for breath, and a "rescue inhaler," a medication containing albuterol, can be used to open up the airways.

Chest Congestion

• Active asthma is also characterized by an excess of mucus production in the lungs.

Coughing

• Because of the excess of mucus produced in the lungs, as well as effects on the lungs from inflammation, asthma sufferers often have a persistent cough. Coughing often helps bring up and expel some of the mucus from the lungs.